Introducing STEM CELLS

Teachers in Residence Programme Colm Caomhánach and Róisín Ní Bhraiain Lukiyanovoa Natalia/frenta/shutterstock

How animals are ‘organised’ Cells are like LEGO that “stick” together to make bigger things

Cells Cells are the smallest building blocks that make up the body There are 3 types of cells: Young Cells Teenage Cells Grown Up Cells As a cell gets older it gets more defined and is “stuck” as a certain type of cell As a cell gets older it can lose the ability to change or regenerate Lukiyanovoa Natalia/frenta/shutterstock

Stem cells are special because: 1) They can copy themselves. (Not all cells can do this!) 2) They can make other types of cells. Our body uses stem cells to replace damaged or dead cells. We hope that we can use them in the future to treat diseases. https://goo.gl/images/CbYRk5 http://try.stem-kine.com

Stem Cells Can be Grown into Different Types of Cells https://goo.gl/images/aFplMG

A newt can regenerate an entire limb within 7-10 weeks Regeneration Regeneration is the ability of an animal's cells to make new body parts when they are an adult. A newt can regenerate an entire limb within 7-10 weeks https://goo.gl/images/KcNC4N For example, some animals can do more than just make new skin, they can grow new arms or even heads!

Stem Cells and Regeneration When an animal is developing, most of the cells turn into a particular type. Cells become blood cells, heart cells, bone cells, etc. During development, stem cells sometimes remain that do not turn into a type of cell. Some animals can use their stem cells to regenerate lost or damaged body parts. In order for animals to do this, their stem cells need to get the right signals from the rest of the body.

Head Regeneration in Hydractinia Hydractinia (also know as snail fur) is a small sea creature that lives on the shell of Hermit Crabs. Hydractinia can regenerate its head within 72 hours of being cut off. Bradshaw et al, 2015; https://elifesciences.org/articles/05506#fig2

Stem Cells and Regeneration Hydractinia have the correct genetic recipe for regeneration Specific genes get turned on and send signals to stem cells in the body These signals cause the stem cells to move (red arrows) to the area that needs regeneration Bradshaw et al, 2015; https://elifesciences.org/articles/05506#fig5

Stem Cell Moving into Head for Regeneration Bradshaw et al, 2015; https://elifesciences.org/articles/05506#media2 “Video 2”, Bradshaw et al., 2015 Movie can be downloaded at: https://elifesciences.org/articles/05506#media2

Hydractinia Regeneration Bradshaw et al, 2015; https://elifesciences.org/articles/05506#fig3 In an uninjured Hydractinia the stem cells (green) are located on the bottom When the head is cut off the stem cells (green) begin to move to the injured head to start regeneration Regeneration occurs when stem cells arrive and multiply

Prosthetics Humans and other animals cannot regenerate heads or limbs like the Hydractinia Adult humans and other animals do not send the right signals to our stem cells to regenerate a head or a limb because they do not have the correct genetic recipe required for regeneration Adult humans do have the correct genetic recipe to allow our stem cells to regenerate small injuries (paper cut to our skin), but not to regenerate a full organ Instead of using stem cells, humans have had to use their brains to create prosthetics that can be used to replace arms and legs

The design of the prosthesis must suit where it goes in the body Prosthetics The design of the prosthesis must suit where it goes in the body A prosthesis for the leg must be suitable for standing and walking, shock absorption, and even running, jumping, and other sports activities A prosthesis for the arm must be suitable for reaching and grasping, and daily activities like eating, writing, and dressing

Activity: Part 1 Starfish Monkey Tiger Lizard Assemble into groups Using plasticine balls (cells), each person in the group makes their ‘animal’ Each person shares the animal to the group Now, imagine your animal has an accident resulting in the loss of a limb (arm or leg) Each person, picks a limb and removes it Activity: Part 1 Starfish Monkey Tiger Lizard

Which of the animals do you think can regenerate a new limb? Regenerative Animals Each person made animals using plasticine ‘cells’ Take a vote: Animal Starfish Monkey Tiger Lizard Number of Votes Which of the animals do you think can regenerate a new limb?

How will the animals fix their injuries? Activity: Part 2 How will the animals fix their injuries? Starfish and Lizards can regenerate, as they are able to use their stem cells to grow a limb Monkeys and Tigers cannot regenerate… Use stem cells, or your biomaterials kits to make a prosthetic device

Presentation Present your design to the group Discuss the good points and bad points of prosthetics and regeneration

Evaluation

References: Bradshaw et al., eLife 2015; 4e05506 commons.wikimedia.org goo.gl/images/aFplMG goo.gl/images/CbYRk5 try.stem-kine.com/lf-1/ www.youtube.com/watch?v=evH0I7Coc54 Sincere thanks to all of the researchers who gave lectures and generously gave their time throughout the course. A special thanks to Mikey Creane for helping develop the content of the slides. Thanks also to all the participating teachers who very kindly shared ideas and resources.

This publication has emanated from research conducted with the financial support of Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) and is co-funded under the European Regional Development Fund under Grant Number 13/RC/2073. This project has been funded by the European Union Seventh Framework Programme under Marie Curie Initial Training Networks (FP7-PEOPLE-2012-ITN) and Grant Agreement Number 317304 (AngioMatTrain). This project has also been funded by the European Union Horizon 2020 Programme (H2020-MSCA-ITN-2015) under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Innovative Training Networks and Grant Agreement Numbers 676408 (BrainMatTrain) and 676338 (Tendon Therapy Train).